Federal prosecutors say a late-night rescue at a Castaic motel ended with an 18-year-old from Bangor, Pennsylvania, in handcuffs and a 13-year-old girl pulled from a room stocked with disturbing items.
Authorities identified the suspect as Matthew Edward Pysher. According to the FBI and federal prosecutors, he allegedly groomed the girl online, traveled across the country to meet her and may have other, still-unidentified victims. He has been federally charged in Los Angeles and faces a potential decades-long prison term if convicted.
In a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, investigators say Pysher first reached out to the girl in December 2025 on a Discord server focused on mental-health issues. The complaint alleges he then encouraged her to send sexually explicit images and to harm herself. Prosecutors say Pysher flew from Philadelphia to Los Angeles on Feb. 20, met the girl near her home and took her to a Castaic motel, where law enforcement officers located them later that same day. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and local partners are investigating, and the case is being prosecuted in federal court in downtown Los Angeles.
What investigators say
When officers went inside the motel room, they reported finding condoms, a knife, lubricant, razor blades, bloody tissues, a boarding pass for a flight from Philadelphia, and a Faraday bag next to the suspect’s phone, according to the complaint. The girl told investigators that she and Pysher had engaged in sexual conduct and that he used a knife to cut her multiple times, the filing states. Those details are part of the evidence prosecutors say supports a federal charge of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, as outlined by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Nihilistic violent extremists and online grooming
Federal officials say Pysher appears linked to what they describe as “nihilistic violent extremist” ideology, or NVE, a loose pattern of online groups that the complaint claims promote self-harm, exploitative material, and violent behavior. As reported by CBS Los Angeles, prosecutors allege that NVE communities target vulnerable teens and normalize self-mutilation and sexual exploitation, patterns investigators say they see in this case. Court documents say those connections were drawn from a review of the victim’s phone and Pysher’s online activity.
Charges and next steps
Prosecutors charged Pysher with one felony count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The offense carries a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison if he is convicted. The complaint is an allegation, and Pysher is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. According to prosecutors, he was expected to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Central District’s National Security Division and Major Crimes Section are assigned to the case.
Tips and resources
The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office is urging anyone who believes they may be a victim or who has information about the case to contact investigators at 310-477-6565 or 1-800-CALL-FBI, as posted by FBI Los Angeles on X. For parents and caregivers looking for help on keeping children safe online, the FBI’s resource page for parents outlines how to recognize grooming, report concerns and seek support. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline accepts online reports of suspected child sexual exploitation through its CyberTipline. Both resources explain how to report suspicious contact and where to get help if a child may be in immediate danger.
